- by Shea Angus

It's Bell Let's Talk Day 2021! This is the first time I’ve shared one of my posts with the Owen Sound Hub, and I want to thank Anne for giving me the opportunity to share my story and my experience. If you are interested in learning more about my story and struggles with anxiety and depression, I will include two links at the bottom of this letter for you to watch. There are tears and I got into some detail about my issues so if that isn’t for you, please feel free to just read this!

This day is always incredibly important to me and so many others. These posts I make every year have sparked conversations and friendships and that is exactly why I think it's so important to talk about our mental health.

Part of why I share my story is because many people are surprised to learn that I’ve dealt with depression and anxiety. I’m very outgoing, loud, and opinionated and people don’t often associate those traits with people who have anxiety or depression. Although this is a problem that can affect everyone, most often it’s men who succumb to their depression. There’s an added stigma that still exists (though I think at least in my experience it’s not as prevalent as it used to be precisely because of days like this). My hope is by sharing my story and showing the highs and lows of life with depression, I can show someone else that it’s okay to struggle, that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and that you are never, ever, alone.

Especially as the world is navigating the pandemic, isolation is very real. Suicide rates have increased as many of us struggle with not just the isolation, but the uncertainty that this pandemic has caused.

These are all normal feelings and we're all feeling them to some extent. Today should act as an opportunity to help raise funds for an important cause, but it should also be a reminder to reach out to the people you love. Talk to someone about how you feel. Check in on people you haven't seen in a while. Reach out to people who might be hurting right now.

I do what I can as well to do more than just talk. It’s become an unofficial yearly tradition for some of my closest friends to pool some funds to support local mental health initiatives in our community. This year at the suggestion of Aakash Desai, Chad Richards, Graham Taylor, Aakash, and myself have donated $850 to the Hanley Institute located in Flesherton. The Hanley Institute works with youth who are dealing with mental health issues, addiction, or just feel like they are struggling to fit in with the world. I’m very proud of the multitude of mental health organizations we have in our community and I’m excited that we’re able to offer some support to the Hanley Institute this year. I want to thank Aakash, Chad, and Graham for making this possible and being supporters not only for me, but for our community as well.

My offer continues to stand this year as well. If you ever feel low and feel you don't have anywhere to go, reach out. Reaching out is the first step you can take towards feeling better. I'm not a professional, but I can talk (as some of you may know) and I can listen.

If you take away only one thing from this article or my videos, let it be that no matter how hard things get and no matter how alone you feel, it will always get better and you're never ever alone.

2018: https://www.facebook.com/shea.angus/videos/10161322220300082

2020: https://www.facebook.com/shea.angus/videos/10162873535590082